Team News and Expected Line-up Against AEL Limassol - 21/08/2014

Spurs will want to capitalize on their win at West Ham on the weekend with an impressive showing in Cyprus against AEL Limassol.

If Spurs can grab a decisive away win on the Mediterranean island, it will make the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane much easier, especially since that match is only days ahead of a crucial league clash with Liverpool.

What They Said

Jan Vertonghen on fitness and desire:

“I have had couple of good sessions the past couple of weeks together with the other World Cup guys and hope to be ready for Thursday. It is the manager’s choice, of course, but I hope I can play and that I am allowed to play.”

Dembele on AEL:

“We can’t underestimate Limassol. It’s going to be very important for us to get through to the Group Stage.

“We have a good squad so we have a good chance to do well. It would be great to make a mark in the competition. It’s something everybody here wants.”

Pochettino promises changes:

"We will make some changes tomorrow"

"This is not with an eye on the QPR game - we are focused on this game.

"For tomorrow we will put in place the best team to try to win the game tomorrow, and always we choose the starting eleven of the squad because we believe that it is best for the team."

AEL coach Ivaylo Petev on his team’s belief:

"I believe 21 August will be a very good day for AEL. There is belief and it is vital that there is in the squad.”

About AEL

The Cypriot side have won the domestic league title six times (1941, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1968, 2012) and domestic cup competitions a total of 12 times with the most recent success in 1989.

Last season, they finished second in Cyprus and qualified for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. At home, they shocked Zenit St. Petersburg, winning 1-0 only to lose steam on the return trip to Russia, falling 0-3. That loss landed them in this UEFA Europa League tie with Tottenham.

The Cyprus First Division gets started this coming weekend.

A History in Cyprus

Spurs have never played AEL in a competitive match, but they did venture to Cyprus for a series of friendlies in 1968. Spurs ran out 7-1 winners in their encounter with AEL on that tour with Alan Gilzean scoring a hat trick, Cliff Jones bagging a brace, and Jimmy Robertson and Dennis Bond adding a goal each.

Spurs last travelled to Cyprus in the 2007/2008 UEFA Cup campaign, competing against Anorthosis Famagusta and drawing the away match before dominating the home fixture and advancing.

Team News

Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele, Paulinho and Jan Vertonghen are regaining their fitness after returning from World Cup duty and there is a good chance we’ll see a few of those guys in this match. Kyle Naughton’s red in the league means he’ll probably get the call for this one, saving Jan (for a half at least) and Eric Dier for QPR. Vlad Chiriches (back) and Kyle Walker (pelvis) are doubts.

Adebayor, Eriksen, Kaboul, Lennon & Capoue have not travelled.

Game Plan

As far as anyone can guess, this should be a simple affair for Tottenham over the two legs. Last year, Spurs rolled through the group stages against inferior competition and should do the same again this term, starting in this playoff. Mauricio Pochettino will want to balance the squad as much as possible and use these games in the early stages of Europa League to get minutes to some out of favour players as well as younger squad players.

Even if Spurs have the ambition to win the Europa League, the lineup seen on Thursday probably won’t mimic the lineups used when the games have more consequence.

Line-up

Lloris (c); Naughton, Dier, Vertonghen, Davies; Bentaleb, Paulinho; Holtby, Townsend, Kane; Soldado

 

Nice article with a splash of history. Know there are many Cypriot Spurs fans so it 'll be a nice occasion for them. Good chance for the players to remind Poch of their abilty, so lets see Soldado on the score sheet, and one or two others ! Coys.

 

I'd go Fredericks Dawson JV Davies Sandro dembele holtby Townsend lamela soldado

 

Balancing out between this match and the premier league will be the key...don't underestimate them though,would like to see Soldado on the scoresheet to spark his confidence(and the team)

 

Big Brad, Nautn, Daws, Jan, Davies, Sandro, Dembele, Chaldi, Holtby, Townsend, Soldado

We didn't appeal the red card so Naughton will start at FB, hope to see Jan get a good 45-60 minutes then bring on Veljkovic, Also hope to see Sandro get a start, also Soldado should get a start but who knows, MP might prefer young Harry instead.